Big Rock Traditional Ale
Signature Series
Comfort Food in a Glass
According to the poem, there is a corner of a foreign field that is forever England. Since 1985, we’ve been turning many Albertan fields into one of England’s favourite drinks, brown ale. The go-to favourite for many, it’s become something of a legend.
Little Known Fact
One of our original three craft brews, Traditional was also one of the first English-style brown ales ever brewed in Canada... it’s still our best-known beer today.
Comfort Food in a Glass
According to the poem, there is a corner of a foreign field that is forever England. Since 1985, we’ve been turning many Albertan fields into one of England’s favourite drinks, brown ale. The go-to favourite for many, it’s become something of a legend.
Little Known Fact
One of our original three craft brews, Traditional was also one of the first English-style brown ales ever brewed in Canada... it’s still our best-known beer today.
2.9
254 reviews
Calgary, Canada
Community reviews
Pours clear medium amber with one finger of light tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, spotty lacing. (4/5) Nose is caramel with hints of toffee, grainy malt, mild fruit and nuttiness. (6/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Medium to light bodied, moderate carbonation, dry finish. (3/5)
“Boring” might be a little harsh, but I’m not sure how better to describe it. “Straightforward”? “Unremarkable”? It’s a little light for the style, but there are no other negatives. Very drinkable and - speaking from experience - sessionable. (Just because this is the first time I’ve officially reviewed it, doesn’t mean it’s the first time I’ve drunk it!) (12/20)
On tap at Sage in Canmore, Alberta.
Clear, reddish copper with an off-white head and excellent lacing.
Aroma of caramel, light fruit and lemon rind.
Taste of mixed spices, caramel, light fruit and mild citrus.
Medium/light body and medium/high carbonization.
My take on this beer clearly differs from other reviewers--particularly in regard to the spiciness. I checked with others in my party who had tried the beer and they also felt that spiciness was the predominant flavor, closely followed by caramel malt. In any case, the beer I tasted was fairly decent.
355 ml can poured at home. I’ve had this beer many times; aroma smelled strongly of dry dog food (very malty). Taste is a nice malty flavor with a nutty finish. This is a decent little beer.
On tap I think in Earl’s, Banff.
A: creamy, malts, caramel
Ap: Amber, small, creamy tan head which left lacings on the side of the glass.
T: Caramel, malts, a bit grainy, something like peche, light toast/burnt.
P: long malty, soft round mouthfeel. Full malty taste.
In contrast to others here, I liked this beer.
Color: attractive deep copper.
Aroma: sweet malt aroma.
Taste: sweet, bread-like malt. Not much hops.
A fairly typical brow ale. Not bad, but fairly simple and one dimensional.
On tap. Caramel malt with a touch of fruit. Light bodied and pretty unremarkable. Dry finish. Not a fan.
Good old standby back home. Not the best but decent enough to last the evening. Brown pour with a medium head, minimal retention. predominately malt, toffee, some nuts, bit of roasted malt. Medium body, easy drinking.
Highly drinkable post grass cutting beer. Not incredible, but more than adequate.
Amber colour, white head. Taste of malts and strong hints of caramel and a hint of a grassy taste.
Sort of a watery looking ruddy brown clay colour. Quite a bit better than the Grasshopper Wheat, this ale is mediocre tasting and is still definitely lacking a lot of qualities that would make it great. Smells is sweet earthy must with some caramel. Tastes of roasted caramelised almonds, roasted malt, dark bread, vanilla and some very passive floral hops. Thin, unexceptional body. Things just didn’t come together on this one.
Can. Taste of nuts and toffee, and some roasted malt. Has a medium body with lower carbonation, and a slick mouth feel. Somewhat of a strange syrup aftertaste not bad, but not good either. Just an okay beer.
Bouteille de 341 ml achetée au Beer Store de Hawkesbury. Dégustée le 9 septembre 2003. Bière rousse limpide. Mousse assez, col moyen assez compact, durable. Assez effervescente, bulles moyennes. Odeur de fruits et de céréales grillées. Très douce, assez sucrée, assez amère en finale.
Bottle 12/02 (Old Notes)-Pours a lighter brown with a decent sized head. Aroma of malt, caramel, and slight grass. Taste of sweetness, grains, and malt. This medium bodied brew is well balanced and goes down smooth.
Nice malt forward session beer. Caramel and toast were the most prominent notes for me. Borders on a brown ale in taste although it is a deep amber colour. Great malt beer, especially when your not in the mood for hops.
Trad is a great go to at any bar in Alberta. Dark amber, nearly brown with a strong malt flavour. A relatively strong beer and tastes that way! Definitely packs a punch. -- rated via 'Find A Beer' for Blackberry 10
Enjoyed this one quite a bit. Had it on draught and was exactly what I was looking for. A simple beer that is very malt forward, but the caramel notes are up front with a hint of roast swimming in the background. Super sessionable. Great on a cold night at the pub.
Malty and syrupy, a classic around these parts and grew up with it but very thin and sweet, mild carbonation.
Aroma:very light sweet malt notes but mostly carbonation
Taste:some bland sweet maltiness. Some caramel and cream flavors that finosh woth some basic hop biterness
Appearance: clear amber body with cleamy lace head with medium/ great retention
Bottle. Clear amber body, small beige head. Aroma of grains, caramel, cheese floral. Sweet taste of grains, a touch of herbal hops, a tad metallic. Light but too sweet.
On tap at Henry’s Pub at Sheraton Cavalier, Calgary. Pours a very clear deep copper with no head. Nose is light caramel and grass. Sweet to start with barely a hint of bitterness in the short finish. Medium body with soft carbonation. Just OK.
Draft. Amber body with a short, beige head. Aroma of toasted grain, caramel, nuts, light herbal, earthy hops. The flavor is moderately sweet and lightly bitter. It finishes with lightly to moderately sweet and lightly to moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Fairly bland and inoffensive. Flavor of sweet caramel, herbs.
Well done, lightly hopped yet full bodied. Best fresh from a tap, otherwise bottle
Bottle. Clear amber body, small beige head. Aroma of grains, caramel, cheese floral. Sweet taste of grains, a touch of herbal hops, a tad metallic. Light but too sweet.
brown amber body with a red hue and generous beige head, good retention. Toasted bread, slightly hoppy malted barley with caramel notes to the nose. Flavour is very well balanced but doesn? t really stand out and the finish is a little boring too. Short coppery aftertaste and a watery feel. overall good.
Great beer. Easy to drink but has lots of flavour. Good in a bottle, can, and on tap. One of my favourites.
Bought a multi-pack of Big Rock (as I like to try different beers) and found this. I actually tried it last as I wasn’t sure what to expect but was very pleased.
Tap at Charcut. Pours clear brown with a small, frothy off-white head, short retention with good lacing. Aroma is toast, caramel, and nutty malt with dates and earthy hops. Flavor is malt with light hops and bitterness, dark fruits and a dry finish. Medium body and carbonation.
0.33 l can at whistler. Nothing special, normal supermarket beer...
Bouteille. Nez de caramel doux très légèrement rôti avec des notes de houblon floral, de noix et de fruits (agrumes). Rondeur mince-moyenne en bouche. Goût vaguement fruité (agrumes et traces de pêches) lors de l’entrée en bouche rapidement éclipsé par un goût assez malté de caramel assez doux avec de faibles traces de sucre brun aux petites notes rôtiespuis finalement, une très douce amertume de houblon floral aux notes herbeuses se développe et est appuyé par des notes de noix. Post-goût moyen-court, très légèrement amère de houblon floral avec des notes de noix et quelques traces rôties.
bread, cereal, nuts, roasty, citrus, earthy, woody, orange, red, clear, minimal head, white foam, light sweetness, medium bitterness, average carbonation, thin feel, slick feel, light body, astringent
Was my go to beer at the Pub for years. Decent copper pour with light white foam that falls quickly. Darker aromas of nuts, toast against some citrus. Taste is nutty too with a medium bitterness. Mouth feel is a bit thin, but has good carbonation to help cut greasy pub bites. Lightly astringent with lingering mild bitterness.